Our Team

Dr. Canavati attended American University, Beirut, Lebanon, where he acquired his M.D. He completed residencies at Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, and Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, Maryland, and the University of California, San Francisco. He is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons (FACS). Dr. Canavati specializes in neurosurgery.

EDUCATION
- B.S., 1975, American University, Beirut
- M.D., 1979, American University, Beirut

RESIDENCY
- Johns Hopkins Hospital, General Surgery, Baltimore, Maryland, 1980-1981
- Mayo Graduate School of Medicine, Neurosurgery, Rochester, Minnesota, 1981 - 1986

CERTIFICATION
- American Board of Neurological Surgery

PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS
- American Association of Neurological Surgeons
- American College of Surgeons
- American Medical Association
- Congress of Neurosurgery
- Fort Wayne Medical Society
- Neurological Society of Indiana

Dr. Phuong received his medical degree from the University of California at Irvine following an undergraduate degree from California State University at Los Angeles. He is a member of Alpha Omega Alpha medical honor society. Dr. Phuong completed his neurosurgery residency at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota where he received one of the top scores on the country in the neurosurgery board exam. In addition, he completed a fellowship in molecular medicine at Mayo. Dr. Phuong is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons (FACS).

EDUCATION
- B.S. in Biology, 1993, California State University, Los Angeles, California
- M.D., 1997, University of California, Irvine College of Medicine, Irvine, California

RESIDENCY
- Mayo Clinic, Department of Neurosurgery, Rochester, Minnesota, 1997-2003

CERTIFICATION
- American Board of Neurological Surgery

PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS
- American Association of Neurological Surgeons
- American Medical Association
- Congress of Neurosurgery

Dr. Qureshi is a board-certified, spine fellowship-trained neurosurgeon specializing in complex and minimally invasive spine surgery, degenerative deformity, and revision spine surgery. Dr. Qureshi has extensive experience treating patients with various brain and spine conditions, including brain tumors, spinal tumors, and patients who had prior spine surgeries.

Procedures and Conditions include:
• Neck and back pain
• Herniated disks
• Lumbar laminectomy
• Lumbar fusion
• Scoliosis
• Failed back syndrome
• Minimally invasive spine surgery
• Brain tumors
• VP shunts
• Normal pressure hydrocephalus
• Minimally invasive brain biopsy

EDUCATION
- B.S. in Computer Science | University of Illinois | Chicago, Illinois
- Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine | Pikeville College School of Osteopathic Medicine | Pikeville, Kentucky

RESIDENCY
- Arrowhead Regional Medical Center/Western University, Neurological Surgery Residency

FELLOWSHIP
- Arrowhead Regional Medical Center, Cranio-Spinal Trauma
- Swedish Neuroscience Institute, Complex and Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery

PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS
- American Osteopathic Association
- American College of Osteopathic Surgeons
- American Medical Association

BOARD CERTIFICATION
- Neurological Surgery
- American Osteopathic Association

Dr. Wetjen is a general and pediatric neurosurgeon at Fort Wayne NeuroSpine and Pain and Fort Wayne Neurological Center. Prior to this appointment, he was a general neurosurgeon and director of pediatric neurosurgery at Blank Children’s Hospital and Iowa Clinic in Des Moines, Iowa. He has also served as Associate Professor of Neurosurgery and Pediatrics at the Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Director of Pediatric Neurosurgery at the Mayo Clinic and Mayo Clinic Children’s Hospital in Rochester, Minnesota for 10 years.

He received his medical degree at the University of Iowa and completed his neurosurgery residency at the Mayo Clinic. He also completed a clinical research fellowship at the National Institutes of Health and pediatric neurosurgery fellowship at the University of Utah and Primary Children’s Medical Center in Salt Lake City, Utah.

He is board certified in neurosurgery and pediatric neurosurgery and is a fellow of the American Association of Neurological Surgery, American College of Surgeons, and American Academy of Pediatrics.

He has authored more than 65 peer-reviewed scientific papers, 15 book chapters, and presented his research at many national and international scientific meetings.

His clinical and research interests are in pediatric spine, skull base and craniofacial surgery, repair of brain and spinal congenital malformations, pediatric and adult neurotrauma, and minimally invasive spine surgery. He also has certifications and experience in tactical medicine, wilderness medicine, and austere environment and global neurosurgery.

Ms. Ritchie graduated magna cum laude with her Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree as well as her Master of Science and Family Nurse Practitioner degree from Union University. Ms. Ritchie serves as a Nurse Practitioner in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, building upon her 15-year background as a registered nurse in medical-surgical nursing, urology and as a certified nephrology nurse as well as a Family Nurse Practitioner in family medicine. She is certified by the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners.

Adrienne Evans is a Nurse Practitioner with Neurosurgery. She graduated with her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis. With 10 years of nursing experience in Med-Surg and Neuro-Trauma ICU, she graduated with a Master of Science in Nursing from Indiana University Purdue University Fort Wayne. She is certified by the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners as a Family Nurse Practitioner.

Sara Stout is a Family Nurse Practitioner with Neurosurgery. She graduated with her Bachelor of Science degree from Purdue University, Fort Wayne. With a surgical nursing background, she then obtained her Master of Science degree in Nursing at Indiana Wesleyan University. She is board certified with the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners.